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Dental implants are an excellent way to replace one or more missing teeth permanently. Although implants are often costly and require multiple steps to complete, they are a better solution than crowns, bridges, and other potential treatments in the long term. Dental implants have a high success rate and give you a bright, healthy-looking smile. But how you take care of your implants helps determine how long your implant will last.

On average, it takes about 6 to 8 months for a dental implant to fuse with the underlying jaw bone and become fully healed in the mouth. Here are the 5 tips for successful dental implants and where you can schedule dental surgery in Melbourne with an experienced oral surgeon.

1. Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for failed oral surgery of any kind and dental implants in particular. Nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it constricts blood vessels throughout your body. Oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood cannot reach everywhere it needs to when you smoke and your oral health is the most drastically impacted.

Blood vessels that would otherwise be delivering platelets, white blood cells, and other healing mechanisms to your dental implant site become closed off or restricted after smoking, which usually persists until the next cigarette. If you smoke and didn’t quit prior to your dental implant surgery, now is a great time to try. Even if you are only able to stop or just cut back for a short period of time while you heal, this can drastically improve the success rate of your implant.

2. Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods

You should avoid very sticky or hard foods like caramel, hard candy, popcorn, and other similar foods that could get stuck in your implant or wedged between the implant and your other teeth. Not only are these products potentially harmful during the initial healing period, they can also be detrimental even years later. Hard candies can cause the external crown to break and sticky caramel or toffee can pull on the implant and weaken its bond with the underlying jawbone.

3. Brush & Floss Without Exception

Gum disease is arguably the number one cause of dental implant failure. Bacteria and plaque get lodged underneath the gum line. Infection develops that can eat away at the bone and cause the screw that secures the implant to loosen. Make sure that you brush your teeth with a soft bristle brush twice per day and floss at least once, without exception.

4. Avoid Abrasive Toothpaste & Toothbrushes

Abrasive toothpastes that are designed to polish the teeth and hard bristled toothbrushes can be too intense immediately after having dental implant surgery and even for many weeks or months following. Consider switching to a soft bristled nylon toothbrush and gentle toothpaste. You can keep your dental implant in peak condition for longer when you do not use abrasive materials.

5. Maintain Regular Dental Checkups

Once you get a dental implant, it’s important to have regular dental checkups to ensure the healing process. Your dentist can spot potential problems with the implant like rejection or bone loss during regular exams. This allows you to have faster treatment than if you were to wait for an issue.

Contact an Oral Surgeon In Melbourne, FL Today

The dental surgeon that you choose also plays an important role in the overall success of your dental implants. You should choose an oral surgeon with plenty of experience treating dental conditions similar to your own. Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery & Dental Implants offers comprehensive oral surgery solutions, including teeth implants. Call today to schedule an appointment or call (321) 610-7868.